Nov 26th, 2024

In response to the State of Mental Health in Canada report CMHA Alberta and Centre for Suicide Prevention have released the statement below.  CMHA – Edmonton Region, in recognition of the statement and National Addictions Awareness Week and its theme of “Forging Connections,” the CMHA Edmonton Region is proud to highlight the collaborative and innovative approach Alberta is taking to address mental health and addiction. As a province, Alberta stands out for its commitment to building cohesive and coordinated community mental health care, ensuring, as CMHA Alberta and CSP state, that “every door is an entryway to wellness.” By embracing the Recovery-Oriented System of Care (ROSC), we are forging a uniquely Albertan path to address national concerns, creating systems that meet individuals where they are and support their recovery journeys through connection, collaboration, and care.

Together, we can build stronger communities and push for smarter service systems so everyone can be supported toward wellness and good mental health.

Read CMHA Alberta and Centre for Suicide Prevention’s full release statement below.

Building a Collaborative Approach to Mental Health and Addiction Care in Alberta

November 25, 2024

On this National Addictions Awareness Week, CMHA Alberta and Centre for Suicide Prevention
(CMHA AB + CSP) supports the Government of Alberta implementing the Recovery-Oriented
System of Care (ROSC), an innovative approach to mental health and addiction policy.
Assessments of mental health services continue to create calls to action to the federal
government, including CMHA National’s recently released report – The State of Mental Health
in Canada 2024. CMHA AB + CSP support the call for increased investment in mental health
and addiction care and improved data collection throughout Canada, as outlined in the CMHA
National report.

However, CMHA AB + CSP disagrees with the report’s characterization of Alberta’s mental
health and addiction sector. The report overlooks the wholesale transformational change
occurring in our province to build out a system of care that helps the most vulnerable among
us seek recovery. We support the implementation of ROSC and the CMHAs throughout the
province play a vital role in delivering on its policy mandate.
Community mental health programming promotes wellness and life, supports people through
their recovery journey, and cares for individuals, families, and communities. Through the
education, training, advocacy, peer and family support, crisis response, and suicide prevention
programs offered by the CMHAs throughout Alberta, we help build resilience and promote
wellness across our province.

Collaboration is the foundation of this work and is essential to ensuring Albertans have access
to the comprehensive community mental health care they need. By working together with the
Government of Alberta and community partners, we are building a system of care that meets
people where they are at, one that promotes wellness and supports recovery journeys.
Cohesive and coordinated community mental health care ensures every door is an entryway to
wellness. This has been the role of CMHA since our inception, and it still is today.

CMHA Alberta and Centre for Suicide Prevention